Automatic numbering device for printing presses



June 12, 1928.

A K. FRENZEL AUTOMATIC NUMBERING DEVICE FOR PRINTING PRESSES Jr? ven/zonfw @swg Patented June 12, 1928.

UNITED STATES KURT FRENZEL, 0F LEIPZIG-STUTTERITZ, GERMANY.

AUTOMATIC NUMBERING DEVICE FOR PRINTING PRESSES.

Application filed .Tune 22, 1925, Serial No. 38,796, and in Germany December 22, 1924.

In order to number` continuously printed matter directly in a printing press numbering devices have been designed adapted to be inserted directly into the composition. A device of that kind is composed of a plurality of number-disks supported upon a shaft located in a. box, the disks being turned in a certain appropriate succession, and always by one digit. According as said disks are operated, two systems of those devices are distinguished. With one of them the boX enclosing the shaft carrying the number-disks is supported elastically in another box in such a manner that the roller formed by the disks projects over the composition. then then, while the printing proceeds, the printing cylinder or the platen contacts with said roller the inner box in which the said roller is arranged 'is depressed Within the outer box, and is raised later on automatically, when the cylinder or the platen no longer presses upon the number roller, `while at the same time pawls provided in said outer box cause a partial rotation of one or several number--disks according to the number to be printed, the partial rotation of one disk amounting always to one digit.

In order to prevent the print from being obliterated by the rotating number-disk, a mechanism is provided by which every stepmotion. of the disks so delayed that it takes place only after the paper has come out of contact with the roller formed by said disks. This mechanism, however, is complicated and sensitive and does not a1- ways operate satisfactorily. Besides the numbering devices provided with a mecha-` nism of the kind `just stated and having two boxes, of which one is located within the other, require comparatively much space so that the number printed is positioned somewhat remotely from the other printing.

The second of the two systems referred to in the first paragraph of this introductory part of this specification is not possessed of the drawback mentioned in the second halt of the preceding paragraph. one box and the shaft carrying the number disks is supported rotatably therein, but cannot be moved in any other manner. The step-wise movement is effected by causing the printing cylinder or the platen to depress either a separate number-mark or a separate star-shaped mark which projects above the respective number and is elastical- There is only f ly movable, the step-wise movement taking place when the printing cylinder or the platen commences to move back into its initial position. As the number-mark or the star-mark is located in another height than the appertaining number-disk it is difiicult to ink both at a time as the respective-mark, owing to its projecting over the respective disk, penetrates deeper' into the inking roller than do the digits whereby the surface is pressed down too unich, in consequence whereof the proper contact of the inking roller with the digit located nearest the respective mark is at least partly prevented. it is possible, it is true, to increase the distancebetween the mark and the digit in a certain measure but that entails the possibility that the printed digit may be unintentionally altered afterwards by the subsequent. imprint of the next digit. Besides, the surface is easily damaged by the pro- `iecting niark effecting the next step-movenient so that the` inking roller bearing that surface must be exchanged repeatedly. If, as is often times desirable, the number-mark or the star-mark is not to be printed, the inking roller, especially if the printing press is a high-speed press, must be provided with recesses at the places concerned 1n order to prevent hiking of that mark. But those recesses render the inking roller unsuited` Vfor other printing purposes, and besides, that contrivance can be made use of only if, besides the digits or numbers, no other` matter is to be printed.

The disadvantages and drawbacks statedy in the preceding paragraph are obviate'd by my improved automatic numbering device, Vthe gist of which resides in the features that the shaft carrying the digit disks is Supported elastically in the box, that is to say, in one box, and that the step-wise movement of the` disks is ei'ected by depressing that shaft., as is more fully described hereinafter.

My invention is illustrated diagrammatically and by way ot' example in the accompanying drawing in which Figure l is a side-view ot' the shaft and the disks, the box or, more precisely, frame being shown in vertical section; Figure 2 is a rear-view of the. parts shown in Fig. l; Figure 3 is a vertical section in the plane 3-3 of Fig. l; Figure -l is a vertical section in the plane iw-4 if Fig. l g and Figure 5 is a plan.

0n the drawing ai denotes a Ushaped frame, the upright vertical parts of which are each provided with a vertical slot and the bottom-part of which is provided with a recess. The ends of a shaft b are supported in said slots, and number-disks c, as well as a separate mark-disk (l, are carried loosely upon said shaft. The ends of the shaft are preferably flattened in such a manner that the shaft. -annot turn in the said slots. One end of the shaft is provided \vith a practically horizontal slot which is engaged by a horizontal pin e supported in the vertical frame member 1n which that end of the wall is located. The other end of the shaft is Supported by a comjiiressive spring pressing that. end of the shaft against a ledge g allixcd to the top surface of the respective `frame member and closing the respective vertical slot. Normally, the shaft L is in an oblique position as shown in Figs. l and 2. 'lhrough the higher end of it extend*` a horizontal pin L `ivliich projects` at both ends, these latter engaging two grooves t' which are provided in the walls of the slot and are not exactly vertical, the arrangement being such that the shaft is shifted axially a little (to the left in Fig. l, and to the right in Fig. when it is depressed at its higher' end.

Each number-disk is provided laterally with a ratchet-wheel co-operating with a feed-pawl Z and a. check-pawl m. subjected to the pressure of a spring n. The check-pawls m are carried loosely on a shaft supported in a U-shaped member or frame P carried by the shaft IJ. The feed-pawls are connected with each other and form in their entirety1 a kind of comb having prongs of different length. Also this comb is supported in a U-shaped member or frame Q also carried loosely by the shaft L, and is pressed against the ratchet wheels /c by a spring r. rhat part of the member or frame Q which is located on the higher part of the shaft I) is provided with a recess a Which is engaged by a pin t projecting forth from the adjacent side-wall of the main frame of the device. Vvihen the shaft is depressed, the member or frame Q is turned relatively to the shaft by reason of the pin t being guided in the recess a. and the pawls which are in engagement with the ratchet-wheels are withdrawn so that they are in the position to operate when next being actuated. Generally, only the unit-pawl is in engagement with its appertaining ratchet-Wheel, whereas the other ones which are .stepped in length are located in a certain distance from the appertaining wheels. lVhe'n the unit disk shows the digit t) and is turned by one digit so that must appear. the unit feedpawl enters into a particularly7 deep recess of the unit disk ratchet-wheel, and this being so the shorter tens feed pawl enters also into the correspondingly located recess of the ratchet wheel of the tens disk Which is, therefore, al o turned by one digit, viz from t) to l, whereas the unit disk is being turned from t) to t). the result being 10.

The same arrangement is jn'ljividcd for the hundreds-disk and the thousamls-disk, whereas the ten-thousands-disk must be turned by hand, as with similar numbering devices. I am aware of the fact that this way of turning numbering disks in steps is known.

rl`he degree of Obliquity of the shaft and, thus. its vertical movability at its elevated end can be regulated by means of a screw z/ provided in the ledge y. rl'his adjustment is effected in this way that the vertical movability of the shaft shorter when the working speed of the printing press is increased, thc object` ot' this manner of adjusting being to prevent the numbering disks from being flung round.

The other ledge (n) located over the lower end of the oblique shaft may be provided with a star-1nark which is printed adjacent thc end of the number and the object of which is to prevent the lin-al number from being tampered with.

The disk I located on the high end of the shaft l) and bearing the sign Nd can be turned upon the shaft, so that said sign can be turned away to one or the other side, there being then printed merely the nurnber. without the prefix Nef The frame a. is closed laterally by plates so that the types between and among which the numbering device is inserted are held securely at all sides of this device.

An important feature of the invention is that the stepwise rotation of the numberdisks is ctl'ccted by moving the roller formed by the number disks down and up in the box formed by the frame and the lateral plates a. 'l`he oblique position of the shaft carrying the number disks is provided solely for the purpose ot' causing the several disks, i. e. the consecutive unit-disk, tens disk, hundred disk, thousand disk, and so on, to contact with the sheet of paper yto be printed upon in the proper ordei` and with the displacement of the set of disks in actual directions such as occurs during the oscillating move ment of the disks avoids shifting 0f the im print with respect to the printing surface.

l claim:

1. An automatic numbering device for printing presses. comprising. in combination, a casing; a shaft extending longitudinally through said casing in oblique position and heilig so supported therein as to be adapted to be depressed; a set of numberdisks carried b v said shaft; and means for turning said disks in a certain order when the said shaft is being elevated, as set. forth.

Q. An automatic numbering device for printing presses, comprising, in combination,

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a casing; a shaft extending longitudinally through said casing in an oblique position and being so supported therein as to be adapted to be depressed at its higher end, and having a horizontal transverse groove in its lower end; a stationary pin supported in said casing and engaging groove; a set of number-disks carried by said shaft; and ineans for turning said disks in a certain order when the said shaft is being elevated, as set forth.

3. An automatic numbering device for printing presses, comprising, in combination; a casing; a shaft extending longitudinally through said casing and being so supported therein as to be adapted to be depressed and to be nioved also axially by being depressed; a set of number disks carried by said shaft; and ineans for turning said disks in a certain order when the said shaf is being elevated, as set forth. 1

4. An automatic numbering device for printing presses, comprising, in combination, a casing having a vertical slot in each end; a horizontal pin crossing one of said slots; an obliqueshaft having at one end a horizontal transverse groove engaged by said pin; another pin arranged in horizontal position crossivise in the other end of the said shaft and engaging with its projecting ends vertical grooves provided in the side-Walls of the slot in the respective end of thecasing and being slightly curved in such a Way that the shaft is shifted axially When being depressed at the respective end which is the higher one; a set of number-disks carried by said shaft; and ineans for turning said disks in certain order When the said shaft is being elevated, as set forth.

5. An automatic numbering device for printing presses comprising, in combination, a casing; a shaft extending longitudinally through said casing in oblique position and being so supported therein as to be adapted to be depressed; a set of nuniber-disks` carried by said shaft; a corresponding set of ratchet Wheels, each pertaining to, and being connected with, one of said numberdisks; a corresponding set of feed-paxvls, and a boi carrying thern and being so supported as tobe adapted to be turned; a. correspond ing set of check-parvis, and a stationary bow supporting theni, substantially as set forth.

6. An automatic numbering i device for printing presses, comprising, in conibina tion; a casing; a shaft extending longitudinally through said casing in oblique position and being so supported therein as to be adapted to be depressed; a set of nuinberdisks carried by said shaft; a corresponding set of ratchet-Wheels, each pertaining to,and being connected with, one of said numberdisks; a corresponding set of feed-pavvls,

`and a bow carrying theni and being so supported as to be adapted to be turned; a corresponding set of eheck-pawls, and a stationary bow supporting them; a pin aliXed to the easing at the end Where the higher end of the said shaft is located, and engaging a slot provided in the adjacent portion of the bow carrying 'the feed-pavvls, and being adaptedto turn this bow 'when the shaft is being depressed whereby said latter paWlS are brought into operative position so as to turn the number Wheels when said latter bo-W re-assulnes its former position.

In testimony whereof I niy signature. y

- KURT FRENZEL. 

